UK State Pension - Potentially moving abroad / 8 qualifying years

Jay10Uk

Hi All,

Looking for some guidance on my current situation, partner (South African) and I have been contemplating moving to South Africa after working in the UK for the last 7.5 years.

In Summary, we would like to ensure that we have achieved the 10 full years of NI contributions in order to have some UK state pension when we do retire.

Below my history:

2024 to 2025 Your record for this year is not available yet

2023 to 2024 Full year View details

2022 to 2023 Full year View details

2021 to 2022 Full year View details

2020 to 2021 Full year View details

2019 to 2020 Full year View details

2018 to 2019 Full year View details

2017 to 2018 Full year View details

In all likelihood we would look to move to the South Africa in December 2025.
At that stage we would have contributed to NI for 8.5 years.

1. Assuming the above, I understand that the partial year, I would be able to make 'full' by paying additional NI?

2. Would I be able to make contributions from South Africa for one (at least) year, in order to then have 10 Full years of contribution?

3. Assuming I meet the criteria, would I be able to make yearly contributions to NI in order to continue to build up the qualifying years e.g. for another 10 years, to reach 20 years of contributions?

4. When would I able to make the the payments for missing years, could I at the point of immigration e.g. (Dec 2025), pay to fulfill the partial year and the subsequent extra year at once? or do I need to wait until the the financial year (Apr 2026) has been completed?

What is the process that needs to be followed, contact Future Pension Center or HMRC, and can this only be completed once we've left the country, any advice or recommendations?

I have tried calling the Future Pension Center, but have been holding for in excess of 45min each time...

Thank you in advance for your views!

JoeCrystal

Nothing stop you from keeping doing voluntary  contributions. There are people who haven't been to the UK for decades and still able to build up full state pension.

molerat

If you are employed then moving away in Dec means you will probably get a full year for 25-26.

If employed overseas you will, under current rules, be able to pay class 2 at around £180 per year increasing with inflation each year up to the number of years needed to get the full pension.  If not employed then class 3 will be available at currently £907.40 increasing with inflation each year.

Social Security abroad: NI38 - GOV.UK

If you stay in SA once retired your pension will stay at the amount when it comes into payment, it will not increase annually.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/state-pensions-annual-increases-if-you-live-abroad/countries-where-we-pay-an-annual-increase-in-the-state-pension

Jay10Uk

molerat said:

If you are employed then moving away in Dec means you will probably get a full year for 25-26.

If employed overseas you will, under current rules, be able to pay class 2 at around £180 per year increasing with inflation each year up to the number of years needed to get the full pension.  If not employed then class 3 will be available at currently £907.40 increasing with inflation each year.

If you stay in SA once retired your pension will stay at the amount when it comes into payment, it will not increase annually.

Thank you,

Well aware that pension amount remains unadjusted for inflation once it comes into payment - Thanks for reminding!

At what point can an individual start making voluntary contributions, could I leave the country tomorrow for a new job in SA and then start the voluntary contributions?

As it stands, even if we were to be making class 3 contributions @ £907 per year, for two years, it would make sense as opposed to us not qualifying for state pension at all.

molerat

You can start making payments once you are in a new tax year or wait a few years and top up in one go, the NI38 link gives all the information you will need, There are a few ex pat posters on here and likely one of them will be along sometime with direct experience.

squirrelpie

molerat said:

If you are employed then moving away in Dec means you will probably get a full year for 25-26.

Which in turn suggests that you should wait until after the end of the tax year and check if or how much you need to pay for that year. In other words, there's no rush, and a reason to delay a bit.

Jay10Uk

Would anyone know what the definition is for:

"you worked in the UK immediately before leaving"

 Which is part of the qualifying criteria is for class 2 contributions.

What is the the time frame for worked immediately, is it days or weeks, or a couple of months before leaving? 

pinnks

I have not seen a definitive definition.  HMRC say they look for a pattern of working before leaving, that being unemployed while seeking work would count. They also seem to acknowledge that people don't finish in the UK on Friday and leave on the Saturday and I have seen people have up to about 5 or 6 months between finishing work in the UK and actually leaving, though most people would, I think, not have such a large gap.

You could search HMRC's customer forum but I doubt you will find anything much more helpful than the above.